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Savitri, a MythSource painting
Indian

Savitri

01Identity

Savitri in Indian tradition

This Savitri is Ashvapati and Malavi’s mortal daughter, named for the goddess who granted the king a child. She chooses Satyavan, son of the blind and exiled King Dyumatsena, despite Narada’s warning that he has only a year to live. When Yama takes Satyavan’s life, Savitri follows and answers his repeated invitations to turn back with reflections on duty and good company. Yama grants her a sequence of boons for both families, then offers another without excluding her husband’s life. Savitri asks for Satyavan to live, connecting that request to a boon for sons through him. Yama agrees; the story closes with Satyavan restored and both families’ fortunes renewed.

SourceMahabharata Vol. 3 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Forty-Two, printed marker 574(277) (EPUB text block 117)· Mahabharata Vol. 3 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Forty-Two, printed marker 574(277) (EPUB text block 118)· Mahabharata Vol. 3 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Forty-Two, printed marker 574(277) (EPUB text block 119)· Mahabharata Vol. 3 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Forty-Two, printed marker 574(277) (EPUB text block 120)· Mahabharata Vol. 3 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Forty-Two, printed marker 575(278) (EPUB text block 121)· Mahabharata Vol. 3 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Forty-Two, printed marker 575(278) (EPUB text block 122)· Mahabharata Vol. 3 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Forty-Two, printed marker 575(278) (EPUB text block 123)· Mahabharata Vol. 3 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Forty-Two, printed marker 575(278) (EPUB text block 124)· Mahabharata Vol. 3 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Forty-Two, printed marker 575(278) (EPUB text block 125)· Mahabharata Vol. 3 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Forty-Two, printed marker 575(278) (EPUB text block 126)· Mahabharata Vol. 3 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Forty-Two, printed marker 575(278) (EPUB text block 127)· Mahabharata Vol. 3 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Forty-Two, printed marker 575(278) (EPUB text block 128)· Mahabharata Vol. 3 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Forty-Two, printed marker 575(278) (EPUB text block 129)· Mahabharata Vol. 3 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Forty-Two, printed marker 575(278) (EPUB text block 130)· Mahabharata Vol. 3 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Forty-Two, printed marker 576(279) (EPUB text block 131)· Mahabharata Vol. 3 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Forty-Two, printed marker 576(279) (EPUB text block 132)· Mahabharata Vol. 3 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Forty-Two, printed marker 577(280) (EPUB text block 133)· Mahabharata Vol. 3 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Forty-Two, printed marker 577(280) (EPUB text block 134)· Mahabharata Vol. 3 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Forty-Two, printed marker 578(281) (EPUB text block 135)· Mahabharata Vol. 3 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Forty-Two, printed marker 578(281) (EPUB text block 136)· Mahabharata Vol. 3 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Forty-Two, printed marker 578(281) (EPUB text block 137)· Mahabharata Vol. 3 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Forty-Two, printed marker 578(281) (EPUB text block 138)· Mahabharata Vol. 3 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Forty-Two, printed marker 578(281) (EPUB text block 139)· Mahabharata Vol. 3 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Forty-Two, printed marker 578(281) (EPUB text block 140)· Mahabharata Vol. 3 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Forty-Two, printed marker 578(281) (EPUB text block 141)· Mahabharata Vol. 3 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Forty-Two, printed marker 579(282) (EPUB text block 142)· Mahabharata Vol. 3 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Forty-Two, printed marker 579(282) (EPUB text block 143)· Mahabharata Vol. 3 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Forty-Two, printed marker 579(282) (EPUB text block 144)· Mahabharata Vol. 3 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Forty-Two, printed marker 579(282) (EPUB text block 145)· Mahabharata Vol. 3 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Forty-Two, printed marker 579(282) (EPUB text block 146)· Mahabharata Vol. 3 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Forty-Two, printed marker 579(282) (EPUB text block 147)· Mahabharata Vol. 3 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Forty-Two, printed marker 580(283) (EPUB text block 148)· Mahabharata Vol. 3 (Bibek Debroy, Penguin): Section Forty-Two, printed marker 580(283) (EPUB text block 149)

Top questions

The quick answers

02The myths

The myths of Savitri

1 myth, with sources recorded for each.

Savitri Follows Yama for Satyavan

King Ashvapati of Madra performed rites asking for sons. The goddess Savitri granted him a daughter, whom he named after her. When Savitri reached the age for marriage, no suitor approached, so she travelled with ministers and chose Satyavan, son of the blind and exiled King Dyumatsena. Narada praised Satyavan’s character but warned that he would live only a year. Savitri refused to choose another husband. Ashvapati went to Dyumatsena, and Savitri married Satyavan in the forest hermitage.

As the predicted day approached, Savitri kept a three-night vow. On the day Satyavan was to die, he went into the forest to gather fruit and cut wood, and Savitri accompanied him. Pain overcame him while he worked; he rested with his head in her lap. Yama arrived, told Savitri who he was, and took Satyavan’s life in a noose. Savitri followed as Yama walked south. He urged her to turn back, but she spoke of duty, kindness and the company of the virtuous. Pleased with her words, Yama offered a boon other than Satyavan’s life.

Savitri asked first for Dyumatsena’s sight and then for his kingdom. She asked next that her father have a hundred sons to extend his line. For her fourth boon, she asked for a hundred brave and righteous sons through Satyavan. Yama granted each request. Then he offered her a fifth boon without making an exception for Satyavan’s life. Savitri asked that Satyavan live, because she could not have the sons she had been promised without her husband. Yama agreed willingly, freed the noose and told her that Satyavan would live with her for four hundred years.

Savitri returned to Satyavan’s body and he woke. They went back to the hermitage. By morning, Dyumatsena’s rival had been killed and the people wanted their old king restored. Dyumatsena regained his sight and returned to his kingdom. Ashvapati received a hundred sons, and Satyavan and Savitri had the promised children. The two families’ fortunes were restored.

Savitri Follows Yama for Satyavan, a MythSource painting of the scene